Compost grinder



y 1939- H. J. MANKOFF 2,158,240

COMPOST GRINDER Filed Sept. 28, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 16, 1939- H. J. MANKOFF 2,158,240

COMPQST GRINDER Filed Sept. 28, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 16, 1939 PATENT OFFICE.

*ooMrosr GRINDER .nenr flsll'mnkofi, Wichita, Kans.

' a es es; September 28, 1936, Serial No. 103,032

' 12; Claims; (01. 83-11) This invention relates-to grinding machines, and especially to grinding machines ofthe hammer blade type, designed primarily for grinding compost, feed or the like material.

An important object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character having an adjustable apron forming a part of the hopper thereof, whereby the passage of material through the hopper may be regulated to govern the grade of ground material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means for regulating the grade of material out, without the necessity of adjusting the blades in any way or reducing the working capacity of the machine.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a grinding machine constructed'in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the grinding machine comprises a body portion indicated generally by the reference character 5, the body portion comprising end plates 6 which are held in spaced relation with each other by means of the plate I secured to the rear edges of the plates 6, and the plate 8 secured to the forward edges of the end plates 6.

The lower edges of the end plates 6 are cut away providing supporting legs 9, which hold the body portion in spaced relation with the surface on which the body portion stands.

As clearly shown by the drawings, the plate 1 extends upwardly where it connects with the bottom of the inclined trough l0, which trough has its front end open to provide a clearance for the adjustable apron II, and at the same time providing a passageway for material entering the body portion of the machine.

Mounted within the body portion 5 and disposed between the end plates 6, are rods I2 on which hollow rollers 13 are mounted, the rollers being arranged in a curved line, and spaced apart so that material may pass therebetween.

It may be further stated that the end plates 6 have curved portions that carry out the general contour of the curved line of the rollers I3, providing a substantially circular housing in which the blades l4 operate. These blades are mounted on the shaft l5, which extends through the body portion, and is provided with a pulley l6 over which a power belt, not shown, operates to transmit rotary movement to the shaft and blades.

The adjustable apron ll, forming the essence of the present invention, comprises a curved body portion indicated at I! and an upstanding plate l8. Straps, indicated by the reference character l9, are secured to the body portion I! of the apron at a point adjacent to the lower edge of the upstanding plate l8 providing elongated eyes for the reception of the supporting rod 26), which extends through openings in the end plates 6, as clearly shown by Figure 2 of the drawings.

In connection with the supporting rod 20, it will be seen that aligning openings are formed in the end plates 6, the openings in the end plates 6 being disposed in spaced relation with each other, so that by removing the supporting rod from the openings in which it is held, and placing the rod in certain other openings, the rod being passed through the eyes of the adjustable apron, the apron may be moved toward or away from the blades l4, regulating the grade of material cut.

The lower edge of the adjustable apron is bent upwardly providing an elongated eye 2| through which the rod 22 is extended, the rod 22 being Supported in openings in the end plates 6.

Should it be desired to cut an exceptionally coarse grade of material, this rod 22 is removed, allowing the lower end of the adjustable apron to swing freely as the material passes through the body portion.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that when the adjustable apron is in a position as shown in full lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the material ground will be of a medium grade. By moving the apron to the innermost position, as shown in dotted lines, an exceptionally fine grade of material will be ground. By moving the apron to the outermost position, shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings, a much coarser grade of material will be ground.

As the material is ground between the blades and apron, the material is carried downwardly and forced from the body portion through the spaces between the rollers, and the adjustment for regulating the grade of material does not in any way reduce the capacity of the machine, nor does the adjustment cause the machine to choke.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a compost grinding machine, a body por- 'tion having a feed opening, rotary blades operating within the body portion, a plate having a curved portion, pivotally mounted intermediate its ends and disposed within the body portion, said plate cooperating with the blades in grinding material, one end of the plate being substantially straight and extending upwardly into the feed opening of the body portion, the pivot of the. plate being located at the region of the junction of the straight portion and curved portion of the plate, whereby material fed into the feed opening acts to swing the lower end of the plate inwardly towards the blades for grinding coarse material,

and spaced horizontal rollers arranged in a curved line and cooperating with the rotary blades in grinding material.

2. In a compost grinding machine, a body portion having a feed opening and having a curved grinding section, rotary blades operating within the curved grinding section, horizontal rods arranged in spaced relation with respect to each other and cooperating with the rotary blades in grinding material, a plate forming a wall of the feed opening and a portion of the grinding section, said plate being pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, the pivot point of the plates 

